Orlando Pirates will welcome Magesi to Orlando Stadium this evening as they close out their Betway Premiership campaign.
The Buccaneers, currently holding second place in the standings, are determined to end the season on a high. A victory would see them hit 63 points—an impressive leap from the 50 they recorded last term.
Notably, this season was condensed to 28 matches, two fewer than the previous year, following Royal AM’s removal from the league.
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Despite a more consistent run, Pirates were unable to dethrone perennial leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Nevertheless, the progress made under current management marks a positive trajectory for the Soweto giants.
Their most recent outing, however, was underwhelming. A 1-1 draw with AmaZulu, coached by Arthur Zwane, saw Pirates drop points in a match where they were widely expected to take all three.
Midfielder Siphiwe Selepe rescued the result with a second-half equaliser and later conceded that the team was fortunate to escape with a draw, describing the overall performance as below-par.
Wednesday’s clash offers Pirates a final opportunity to underline their improvement and give their supporters a reason to look forward to next season.
“It’s for the first time this side finds themselves where they are, and I am certain we have created a good foundation for a good start next season,” said interim boss Mandla Ncikazi.
“The club has met most of its targets at the beginning of the season, but it is not perfect.
“We didn’t meet all of them. But for me, from where we were last season to where we are now, there is a lot of improvement.”
Magesi come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Marumo Gallants. A top-eight finish is still mathematically possible, but would require an unlikely five-goal margin of victory to propel the visitors up into eighth. Kick off at the Orlando Stadium is set for 19h30 later this evening.